Assistant Principal's Message

Year 10 into 11 Subject Choices.

Year 12 Students last night started their official graduation process from the College. The first phase of this was the final Year 12 Mass celebrated with their families and presided over by Father Roel and Father Samson. This mass has a long-standing history at O'Connor. It is a reminder that although the demands of the Year 12 and the HSC are great there are things that are more important, there is life after the HSC and there is always guidance and comfort to be found in the Gospel. The Mass is a reminder to our students that in a world that at times promotes egocentric values that happiness and peace are found by following the wisdom of Jesus, the King that came to serve, rather than being served. To this end Father Roel challenged our Year 12 students to be lifelong learners and to realize that the journey is not ending, it is just beginning and that their call is to go forth and be a blessing to others. At the end of the Mass, students were given a lit candle by their Pastoral and Academic Care Teachers and they then proceeded from the chapel to the encouragement of their families and to the hymn "Companions on the Journey". The light was passed onto them to carry and to pass onto the world, not alone but as a group with a wonderful shared experience.

By the time this newsletter is read, our year 12 will have walked the stage and officially graduated from O'Connor Catholic College. Awards will have been presented, speeches made, and blessings given.  I would like to wish Year 12 of 2019 the very best of luck outside the College. I wish them a sound preparation for their upcoming exams, reminding them that the study they undertake now will pay dividends when the HSC starts. The HSC begins on the 17th of October.

Term 4

Life and Learning go on at O'Connor for Year 7 to 11. Term 4 begins on Monday October 14. There is no pupil free day on Monday and students are expected to attend in summer uniform. The uniform shop will be open on Friday 11th of October (last day of the holidays) from 9.00am to 4.00pm.

Staffing

We welcome Liz O'Hara who will be taking on the position of College Bursar in place of Kay McClennan who has moved to the North Coast. Liz is well known to the community coming from the office at St Mary's. Miss Lauren Clarke has taken a position at Glen Innes and will be replaced for the term by Mr. Steve Kirkaldy. 

 As you are probably aware Mr. Simon Fleming who is currently on secondment in Barraba as Principal at St Joseph's has taken up a leadership position at Warwick at Assumption College. Mr. Fleming will be missed at O'Connor contributing to the education of our students for over 30 years. Unfortunately, we also lose Mrs. Debbie Fleming who again has served the College admirably for many years. We will miss them terribly, but are grateful to all their contributions to O'Connor and wish them well in this latest challenge.

Thank you ..

For your ongoing support & Cooperation

Damian Roff

Acting A.P